Adams] SHONTO: ROLE OF NAVAHO TRADER 307 



13. At the point when he has created a satisfactory market for 

 manufactured goods and a high development of native enterprise, the 

 trader is no longer concerned with or desirous of promoting further 

 change in native culture, which might tend in the direction of a free 

 market or free cash economy and weaken his own position (Bonny- 

 castle, 1943, p. 64; Keesing, 1941, p. 68; Reed, 1943, p. 122). 



14. Therefore, at a certain stage of development of native- 

 European contact, the trader ceases to be an agent of culture change. 

 He becomes instead an advocate and promoter of stability and the 

 status quo, even while other White agencies — missionaries and admin- 

 istrators — are continuing to work for additional acculturative changes 

 in the native population (Hogbin, 1939, p. 160 ; Keesing, 1941, p. 68 ; 

 Eeed, 1943, p. 122) . 



15. At a further stage in intercultural relations the native himself 

 may become desirous of acculturation ; that is, he may himself become 

 an agent of culture change (Bonny castle, 1943, p. 66; Hunter, 1936, 

 p. 143; Keesing, 1941, pp. 69-70). 



16. The trader, however, continues to be a conservative force, since 

 his special position as intermediary depends on the continued eco- 

 nomic and social separation of the two gToups in contact. In advanced 

 stages of culture contact, therefore, the trader may become the most 

 influential single agent, either European or native, for the preserva- 

 tion of indigenous culture. Such appears to be true of Shonto today. 



